Lancashire struck by sudden earthquake as locals panicked by freak event that shook thousands of homes and felt 'like an underground explosion'

The quake occurred at around 11:23pm and was felt across Lancashire and the southern Lake District.

Lancaster Police said they had received reports of a "loud explosion" overnight.

A spokesman said: "At 11.23pm on Wednesday night (December 3), we received reports of a loud explosion in the Carnforth area. There has been a minor earthquake in the area, near to the Lancashire and Cumbria border, measuring 3.3 magnitude.

"There have been no reports of anyone injured or damage caused but we have officers in the area, together with colleagues from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service.

"If you know of any property that has been damaged or potentially, please contact 101 – quoting log 1613 of December 3."

Residents are said to have told the BGS that the tremor "felt like an underground explosion" and was "so powerful it shook the whole house".

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said "many residents felt or heard a loud bang" in the area of Carnforth.

There has been no immediate reports of damage.

The BSG records between 200 and 300 earthquakes a year, but no more than 30 of these are strong enough to be felt.

Instead, most go largely unnoticed, recorded only by sensitive instruments, and the vast majority cause little damage.

The most recent earthquake measuring more than 3.3 magnitude was felt in parts of Perth and Kinross on October 20, which recorded a 3.7 magnitude.

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